u will be surprised when you see me. I have aged so much--"

"You need not go on," said Lady Clavering. "The rest is about nothing
that signifies."

Then Harry refolded the letter and gave it back to his companion.

"Sir Hugh is gone, and therefore I could not show him that in time to do
anything; but if I were to do so, he would simply do nothing, and let
her go to the hotel in London. Now that would be unkind--would it not?"

"Very unkind, I think."

"It would seem so cold to her on her return."

"Very cold. Will you not go and meet her?"

Lady Clavering blushed as she answered. Though Sir Hugh was a tyrant to
his wife, and known to be such, and though she knew that this was known,
she had never said that it was so to any of the Claverings; but now she
was driven to confess it. "He would not let me go, Harry. I could not go
without telling him, and if I told him he would forbid it."

"And she is to be all alone in London, without any friend?"

"I shall go to her as soon as he will let me. I don't think he will
forbid my going to her, perhaps, after a day or two; but I know he would
not let me go on purpose to meet her."

"It does seem hard."

"But about the apartments, Harry? I thought that perhaps you would see
about them. After all that has passed, I could not have asked you, only
that now, as you are engaged yourself, it is nearly the same as though
you were married. I would ask Archibald, only then there would be a fuss
between Archibald and Hugh; and somehow I look on you more as a
brother-in-law than I do Archibald."

"Is Archie in London?"

"His address is at his club, but I dare say he is at North Priory also.
At any rate, I shall say nothing to him."

"I was thinking he might have met her."

"Julia never liked him. And, indeed, I don't think she will care so much
about being met. She was always independent in that way, and would go
over the world alone better than many men. But couldn't you run up and
manage about the apartments? A woman coming home as a widow, and in her
position, feels a hotel to be so public."

"I will see about the apartments."

"I knew you would. And there will be time for you to send to me, so that
I can write to Paris, will there not? There is more than a week, you
know."

But Henry did not wish to go to London on this business immediately. He
had made up his mind that he would not only take the rooms, but that he
would also meet Lady Ongar at the station. He said